NICHE CRUISE MARKET NEWS
The Niche Cruise Marketing Alliance (NCMA) is a collection of cruise lines that offer diverse alternatives to traditional cruising. The vessels in the alliance range from yacht-like sailing vessels to medium-sized classic cruise ships, and sail to some of the most exotic places on the planet, from the inland waterways of the United States to the wilds of the Arctic and Antarctic to the paradise of the South Pacific and the magic of the Mediterranean.Niche Cruise Marketing Alliance member lines are looking ahead to spring 2010 with new itineraries and new vessels. Upcoming programs include:
Explore the beauty of America's interior waterways between the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Michigan with American Canadian Caribbean Line. For spring 2010, ACCL is offering three distinctive legs in Mid-America that can be taken individually or collectively as a "Back-to-Back" ACCL journey (save 10%.) Only American Canadian Caribbean Line offers the opportunity to explore New Orleans-Knoxville, Knoxville-Nashville and Nashville-Chicago.
American Cruise Lines has two major additions for the 2010 season - a new ship and a new itinerary. The Independence, which will join American Cruise Lines' fleet in June 2010, will have the same passenger capacity as its sister ships, the American Star and the American Spirit, but will be a larger ship. Destinations for the Independence will include Maine, New England, the Hudson River and the Historic South. The new itinerary, the Philadelphia - Potomac cruise, will travel some of the country's most historic waterways such as the Delaware River, C&D Canal and Potomac River.
For the 2010 - 2011 season a new expedition cruise ship will be in operation, celebrating the 20th anniversary of Cruceros Australis, a company that sails in one of the planet's most virgin territories, Chilean-Argentine Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. "Stella Australis" is the name of this new vessel that is being added to Cruceros Australis' fleet, which currently runs the ships "Mare Australis" and "Via Australis".
Cruise West has several new itineraries for the spring of 2010. Voyages of the Great Explorers on the 120-guest all-suite Spirit of Oceanus will circumnavigate the world in 335-days traveling westward from Singapore on March 5, 2010. It is offered in 24 distinct voyages.
The six-night Cocos Island adventure onboard the 100-guest Pacific Explorer offers a rare visit to the tropical UNESCO World Heritage Site. A new seven-night Alaska's Inside Passage itinerary includes Sitka, Wrangell and Petersburg. Twenty-five weeklong departures, roundtrip Juneau, will operate May - August 2010 onboard the 138-guest Spirit of Yorktown and the 102-guest Spirit of Endeavour.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines will replace the program previously operated with the Black Prince, which is retiring in October 2009, with the 850-passenger Boudicca. Departing ports include Rosyth, Greenock, Liverpool, and Newcastle. Originally designed for world cruising and fully refurbished in 2006, her interior has an elegant, modern design. Cruises and departure dates include Canary Islands (March 23); Eastern Mediterranean (April 6) Western Mediterranean (April 29); Norway (May 13); and Baltic (May 23).
Hurtigruten is offering three special opportunities to see some of Europe's most spectacular destinations aboard its newest and most luxurious ship - the MS Fram. Beginning April 1, 2010 discover the beauty of Western Europe on the 9-day Western Europe Easter cruise which includes calls at Lisbon, Portugal; La Coruna, Spain; and Bordeaux, France. Embark on a unique 10-day Norwegian fjords voyage to some of Norway's most beautiful cities including Stavanger, Ulvik and the stunning Sognefjord. Finally the special Europe season ends with an 11-day Baltic Adventure departing from Oslo and calling on fabulous ports including Stockholm, Helsinki, St Petersburg, and Tallinn, Estonia departing April 18, 2010.
Imperial River Cruises, a supplier of river, sea and land tours in Russia and Ukraine, presents its annual Peter Tchaikovsky Cruises, two 13-day voyages between Perm and Moscow. In 2010 the M/S Furmanov, a modern river cruise ship holding 285 passengers, will make two 13-day, 12-night Tchaikovsky Cruises. On May 3 it will depart Perm, in the Ural Mountains, and journey about 720 miles southwest to Moscow. It sails in the reverse direction on Sept. 13. The itinerary will include Votkinsk, the composer's birthplace, and his home in Klin. Prices begin at $2,400 per person for lower deck, plus port taxes and fuel surcharge. All concerts, excursions and meals are included in the price.
Louis Cruises is unveiling an entire array of new and enhanced cruise itineraries in spring of 2010 including three enchanting programs aboard the newly introduced M/V Louis Majesty departing from Genoa, Italy. Louis Cruises also offers 7-day Three Continents aboard the M/V Cristal to explore Egypt, Israel, Greece and Turkey. The new 10-day Adriatic Coast, Italy and the Ionian cruise aboard the M/V Orient Queen sails round-trip from Marseilles. Onboard Louis Cruises' M/V Coral, guests will revel in the 10-day Corinth Canal, Greek Islands, Istanbul itinerary.
For spring 2010, Orion Expedition Cruises offers ten and 11-night March and April voyages to the wonderfully varied beauty of Papua New Guinea. A shorter six-night sailing will be offered at the end of April, exploring Australia's Great Barrier Reef. In early May, Orion offers in-depth seven-night exploration of the remote art communities along Australia's Arnhem Land coastline. In late May, Orion's Expedition Team will lead guests on ten-night Kimberley Expedition sailings to secluded beaches and river inlets.
Sail away with Star Clippers along the French Riviera in May, Star Flyer sails new seven-night itineraries between Cannes, France, and Monte Carlo, Monaco. The cruises visit hidden jewels like Bonifacio, Corsica, and Lerici, Italy - with an optional tour to Florence. A four-night round-trip Cannes sailing features the famous Formula One Monte Carlo Grand Prix final. Cruise-only brochure fares for the seven-night itineraries begin at $2,075 double occupancy; cruise-only brochure fares for the four-night itinerary begin at $1,495 double occupancy.
Variety Cruises will launch its newest program to the Adriatic Coast in summer 2010, exploring the hidden gems of Venice and Croatia. Passengers will spend eight days aboard the Pegasus mega yacht, which will be refurbished this season to re-launch next spring. Embarking from both Venice (Italy) and Split (Croatia), the program sails June through August 2010, with fares beginning at $2,690 per person, per week plus port taxes.
